Ukraine and Russia are reportedly working toward a U.S.-set deadline to reach a peace deal that would end the nearly four-year war.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that the US had set a June deadline for Moscow and Kiev to reach an agreement, according to The Associated Press. The newspaper noted that Zelenskyy’s comments were under embargo until Saturday morning.
“The Americans propose that the parties end the war early this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties exactly according to this schedule,” Zelenskyy said, according to the AP. The Ukrainian president also said that if the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on Moscow and Kiev to meet.
“And they say they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events,” Zelenskyy added, the AP reported.
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People react as they look at rubble after a shelter for stray dogs was destroyed by a Russian airstrike that killed and injured animals in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Kateryna Klochko/AP Photos)
Zelenskyy posted video message on X said Friday that Ukraine’s negotiators “are reporting on sensitive aspects of the Abu Dhabi negotiations that cannot be discussed by telephone.” He added that Ukraine was preparing for “further meetings,” which he said would be “trilateral.”
The Ukrainian president told reporters that the US had proposed hosting the trilateral talks next week, likely in Miami, and that Ukraine had already confirmed it would participate, the AP reported.
President Donald Trump expressed optimism about talks between Russia and Ukraine on Friday during a call with reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We are having very good conversations with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said.
In a readout of the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi that took place on February 4 and 5, the US described the discussions as “constructive” and said they were aimed at creating “the conditions for a lasting peace.” The US also said the delegations had reached an agreement under which Russia and Ukraine would each release 157 prisoners of war, noting that this would be “the first exchange in the past five months.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to end the war. (Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images; Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Kristina Solovyova/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Moreover, the US said this and Russia agreed to open a new channel of communication by establishing a military-to-military dialogue, which would be led by General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command. The dialogue was suspended before the war in Ukraine, the US said, adding that it was “critical to achieving and maintaining peace”.
Despite the apparent progress, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, with Moscow attacking Kiev’s energy infrastructure as the country faces a brutal winter. Zelensky said Saturday that the nighttime attack involved 400 drones and about 40 “missiles of various types.” The Ukrainian president said an apartment building and a university administrative building were hit.
President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan receives heads of delegations participating in trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 23, 2026. (Hamad Al Kaabi/UAE Presidential Court/presentation via Reuters)
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“Russia could choose real diplomacy any day, but it chooses new attacks. It is crucial that everyone who supports the trilateral negotiations responds to this,” Zelenskyy said. “Moscow must be deprived of the opportunity to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine. This requires missiles for Patriot, NASAMS and other systems. Every shipment will help us get through this winter.”
“I thank all our partners who understand this and are genuinely helping,” he added.
Trump previously said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, citing the brutally cold weather.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
